Parents say

Kids say

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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

Positive Messages

Because the series pits expert gamers against each other in contests they haven't necessarily mastered, viewers see that there's always a learning curve in new endeavors, even for pros. Though the players are competitive, and wins accumulate points toward an overall tally, it's obvious the games are meant to be fun. There's some very mild trash-talking between the players, but they also help each other navigate unfamiliar games. Expert gamers are both men and women.

Positive Role Models & Representations

The gamers excel at their craft, but given that they've achieved success by spending hours upon hours in front of a gaming screen, their status as role models is questionable.

Violence

Some video games feature war scenes, gunfire, blood spatter, and kills, which are celebrated by the players. Others show vehicle crashes in motorcycle races, for instance, with less visible injury.

Sex

Language

Occasionally a player says "What the hell?" or "damn." Also "oh my God" and some mild name-calling, such as "nerd."

Consumerism

Each installment shows top gaming aficionados playing a different game (Minecraft, FIFA, Doom 3, and so on), giving themselves, the games, and the sport itself plenty of advertising. The host also wears a T-shirt promoting his own YouTube channel.

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Legends of Gaming is a YouTube series that shows pro gamers competing in pairs on virtual platforms such as Doom 3, Street Fighter, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. The participants' expertise and enthusiasm make the games look that much more enticing, so if your kids don't already play them, they may be inclined to want to after watching. The players themselves also get visibility for their own work and respective YouTube channels. Many of the games are violent in nature, showing characters shot, bleeding, and dead. Expect to hear "damn" and "hell" on occasion. On the plus side, this is a mostly friendly competition that encourages teamwork.

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What's the story?

LEGENDS OF GAMING is a Web series hosted by Toby Turner in which pro gamers face off in a series of competitions via the likes of Counterstrike, Minecraft, and FIFA. Coached by other digital stars, the four two-player teams earn points with wins, and a cumulative tally monitors the teams' success until the contest ends with the top-scoring duo being declared the Legends of Gaming.

Is it any good?

Gaming fans understandably will want to watch their favorite players in this series, and its entertainment value doesn't disappoint. Not only is it fun to see the experts doing what they do best, but it's also often comical to hear their verbal exchanges during the process. Even though there's some playground-style taunting that goes on during the competitions and visible disappointment on one team's part at the end, it's obvious to everyone involved that it's just a game.

That said, Legends of Gaming doubles as a series of lengthy commercials for the games it features and for the participants' respective YouTube channels. And then there's the thorny issue of gaming itself, which raises a host of concerns about screen time and Internet safety for kids. Ultimately this series is a real know-your-kid predicament; if gaming is on your kid's radar and the level of violence in some of these games is old hat, then there won't be any surprises in this entertaining series. If not, it's bound to introduce your kids to new games and the bevy of related content that's available on the Web.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about the point of this series. Aside from increasing the players' visibility, is there one? Do you think nongamers would have any interest in it?

Are your kids gamers? If so, which of the featured games have they played? What are your family's rules about violence-based games? Does virtual violence have any influence on players' behavior in the real world?

Kids: How has the Internet changed how we assign celebrity status? Can just about anyone become an Internet star? Which qualities does Internet fame seem to reward? Who are some of the best Internet stars you've seen?

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